To make matters even worse for the Amakhosi, Hlanti will be sidelined for up to six months as he recovers.

His recent form in the defence has seen Hlanti earn a call-up to Bafana Bafana for next week's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in Johannesburg. This will, no doubt, give the national coach, Hugo Broos, a sleepless night or two as well.

The Amakhosi coach, Baxter, who will be in charge of this 100th league game with the team, explained the moment the injury happened in training and added that the players season could be over.

“I’ve got my moonboot on and I am not a happy camper at the moment, but I feel so sorry for Sifiso,” said Baxter, who himself is recovering from a fractured ankle.

“This morning we did a walkthrough drill, then a handball drill, and then eleven-versus-eleven for 15 minutes just to put down some patterns and tactical things for the game.

“We’ve done everything and we are in the last few minutes of the 15 and we get a long cross, Sifiso was back peddling and he put his foot down behind him and then there was a boom. I am not joking when I say everyone within 20 metres heard it.

“It was like a pistol shot. He went off and when I came onto the field, they said it’s a total rupture. “They could put their fingers together to where the Achilles is, it had snapped”.

“Hlanti won’t be back for another six months, I would guess.”

Saturday’s Soweto derby at the FNB Stadium kicks off at 15:30.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport